Bread Machine Banana Bread Recipe

Photo: Uncut Recipes

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There's a certain magic in turning simple, everyday ingredients into something as delightful as banana bread. Have you ever wondered how a humble fruit like the banana, which often just sits on our counters slowly turning spotty and soft, can transform into a sweet and moist loaf? Well, it's time to unveil that magic with a fuss-free method using a bread machine!

Bananas have journeyed far and wide from their origins in Southeast Asia. As they made their way to different parts of the world, they became a staple in many households. Over time, creative hands found that as bananas ripened and their sugars intensified, they became the perfect ingredient for a sweet loaf. But here’s the twist! Instead of spending time mashing, mixing, and waiting for the oven, we're bringing in the convenience of a bread machine. No more peeking into the oven every few minutes; just add your ingredients, press a button, and let the machine weave its magic.

The toasty crunch of nuts adds an exciting dimension, taking this bread to new heights. Plus, the golden color and the tantalizing aroma make it even harder to resist. So, next time you see those ripe bananas on your counter, don’t think twice. Turn them into a delicious loaf that not only celebrates the journey of bananas but also the wonders of modern baking. Let's get that bread machine humming and enjoy the easiest and yummiest banana bread you've ever made!

JUMP TO:

INGREDIENTS:

Selecting Bananas: The ripeness of the banana will significantly influence both the texture and flavor of your banana bread. Look for bananas with a deep yellow hue and brown speckles, which indicate they're ripe and at their peak sweetness. Overripe bananas, with more brown or black on the skin, have a softer consistency and a more profound, almost caramelized flavor, making them ideal for banana bread.

Bread Flour Consideration: Bread flour contains a higher protein content than all-purpose flour, which assists in achieving a more structured crumb. This might seem unconventional for banana bread, which we typically associate with a tender crumb. Using bread flour can help counteract the additional moisture from the bananas, ensuring the bread isn't overly dense. If you prefer a more classic texture, you can substitute with all-purpose flour without any issue.

Toasted Nuts Insight: Toasting nuts prior to incorporating them into your bread elevates their flavor, drawing out natural oils and enhancing their crunch. Choose nuts based on your personal preference—walnuts or pecans are traditional favorites. When toasting, spread them out on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes, shaking the tray halfway for even browning. Remember, nuts can burn quickly, so keep a close eye on them.

Milk Mastery: While regular cow's milk serves well, consider using buttermilk for a more tender crumb, thanks to its acidity. If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can prepare a homemade version: add a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to regular milk, stir, and let it sit for 10 minutes before using.

MAIN STEPS:

MACHINES MODELS: These are a list of users' experienes:

- Oster Bread Machine: 80 minute Express Bake.

- Cuisinart machines: Sweet Bread settings are the way to go. If you don't have an option for a quick bread you will still have the dough button which is number 8 in settings, mix it on that for 5 mins then put it on the bake cycle which is the number 12 setting.

- Sunbeam Machine (BM2100) in "Cake" button 1:25 hrs.

- Breville The Gourmet Maker: rapid bread setting; let it knead normally and stop before the raising part and skip to "Bake only". Select the medium loaf for 750g.

- Panasonic SD-ZX2522: mixed all the liquid stuff in a bowl and all the dry stuff in another bowl then put the liquid mix first followed by the dry mix on top. Use the Rapid White Loaf program (Menu 2) for a M size loaf, 1 hour and 55 minutes.

- Panasonic SD-2511: Use the Rapid White Loaf program (Menu 2) for a M size loaf.

- Hamilton Beach homebaker 29881: Works perfectly on the quick bread setting. You can also use APF and premix the wet ingredients.

- Hamilton Beach: this machine usually has a dough cycle, turn that on for about 4 minutes, scrape the sides to make sure the flour is fully incorporated. Then, remove the mixing paddle and turn on the bake cycle, which bakes the bread for 1 hour. You can even use only 50-55 mins.

- Zojirushi: Quick Bread setting, my Zojirushi employs an 18 minute knead, followed by three rises of 10, five, and 30 minutes, respectively. This will ruin your Loaf. Custom Cycle setting: Preheat for 20 minutes; Knead 4 minutes; Rise – NO RISE TIME AT ALL; Bake – 60 to 65 minutes.

- If your machine doesn't have the setting required, just allow it to mix for about 10 min in the machine on regular setting. Then pour it into a bread pan and put it in the oven middle rack on 350° for exactly 50-60 min.

SERVED WITH:

Dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding (UK): A moist sponge cake, usually made with dates, drenched in toffee sauce. The caramel flavors would echo the caramelized notes in the banana bread.

Dessert: Chocolate Fondue (Switzerland): Melted chocolate used for dipping fruits, marshmallows, or pieces of cake, including banana bread. The chocolate can enhance the sweetness of the bread while introducing a new flavor dimension.

Drink: Cold Brew Coffee with Vanilla Cream (USA): Smooth, less acidic coffee served cold with a hint of vanilla cream. The bitter notes from the coffee and the aromatic vanilla can contrast and highlight the sweet, fruity notes of banana bread.

ALTERNATIVES:

Dessert: Banana Fritters (Malaysia): Known as "Cekodok Pisang" in Malaysia, these are deep-fried balls of mashed bananas, flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt. They're crispy on the outside and soft inside, providing a delightful treat.

Breakfast: Banana Pancakes (USA): Simple and delicious, these pancakes incorporate mashed bananas into the batter. Often served with syrup or honey, they offer a soft, fluffy texture with the distinct taste of bananas.

Dessert: Banoffee Pie (UK): A British classic that layers sliced bananas, dulce de leche, and whipped cream on a buttery biscuit base. The sweet caramel combined with bananas makes it a delightful dessert.

Snack: Tostones or Patacones (Latin America): Though usually made with green plantains, ripe bananas can be used for a sweeter twist. They're twice-fried to give a crispy outside and tender inside, usually enjoyed with a sprinkle of salt or a dipping sauce.

Dessert: Banana Halwa (India): A dense, sweet confection made by slowly cooking mashed bananas, sugar, ghee, and cardamom together until it reaches a thick consistency. It's often enjoyed during festivals and special occasions.

Drink: Chocolate Banana Smoothie (USA): A creamy beverage blending bananas, chocolate and milk, a touch of honey or sugar, and sometimes a sprinkle of cinnamon or vanilla for added flavor. Often consumed as a breakfast drink or healthy snack.

Dessert: Bananas Foster (USA): Originating from New Orleans, this dish involves caramelizing bananas in a mixture of butter, sugar, and rum. It's often flambeed and served over vanilla ice cream.

HISTORY:

The love affair between humans and bananas is an old one, spanning thousands of years and bridging vast geographies. Originating in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, bananas made their way to various parts of the globe, carried by explorers, traders, and travelers.

Banana bread, in its elemental form, however, is a relatively more modern phenomenon. The rise of baking soda and baking powder in the 19th century in America transformed the baking landscape. In the early 20th century, as bananas became more widely available and affordable in the U.S., ingenious housewives began incorporating overripe bananas into bread, resulting in the moist, sweet loaf we adore today.

The transition of banana bread into the realm of bread machines was a logical step. While the traditional process of baking banana bread in an oven remained popular, the convenience of the bread machine, especially for those tight on time or not keen on using an oven, became undeniable. The Bread Machine Banana Bread recipe was thus born out of a mix of tradition and modern convenience.

Over the years, the Bread Machine Banana Bread recipe has seen countless variations. Some might add chocolate chips, others nuts, and yet others might incorporate spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for added depth of flavor. However, the core idea of turning overripe bananas, which otherwise might have been wasted, into a delightful loaf remains consistent.

TIPS:

Accelerate Bananas: You can accelerate the ripening process by placing bananas in a paper bag at room temperature.

Bread Machine Calibration: Familiarize yourself with your bread machine's specifics. As machines differ, periodic calibration or adjustment to settings may be needed for optimal results.

Monitor Bread Color: Due to varying power and efficiency between bread machines, the baking time might differ. Periodically check the crust color to prevent over-baking.

Banana Infused Milk: Mash a portion of the banana and simmer it with the milk for about 10 minutes.
Method: Strain and cool before adding to the bread machine. This will intensify the banana flavor in your bread.

Nuts Variations and Treatment: Instead of only toasting the nuts, you can also candy them.
Method: Cook the nuts with a sugar syrup until they are caramelized. This adds an additional layer of sweetness and crunch.

Natural Banana Essence: If you want to intensify the banana flavor, consider adding a drop or two of natural banana essence to your wet ingredients. Ensure it's high quality and doesn't have artificial flavors.

Incorporate a Streusel Topping: This creates a delightful crunchy texture to contrast with the soft banana bread.
Method: Before baking, add a streusel mixture made of flour, sugar, butter, and a pinch of salt to the top of your loaf.

Ingredients:

Conversions and Servings: Cups (1 Loaf • About 1lb / 450g) Cups (1 Loaf • About 1.5lb / 680g) Cups (1 Loaf • About 2lb / 905g) Cups (1 Loaf • About 2.5lb / 1130g) Cups (1 Loaf • About 3lb / 1360g) Cups (1 Loaf • About 3.5lb / 1580g) Cups (1 Loaf • About 4lb / 1810g) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 1lb) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 1.5lb) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 2lb) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 2.5lb) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 3lb) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 3.5lb) Imperial (1 Loaf • About 4lb) Metric (1 Loaf • About 450g) Metric (1 Loaf • About 680g) Metric (1 Loaf • About 905g) Metric (1 Loaf • About 1130g) Metric (1 Loaf • About 1360g) Metric (1 Loaf • About 1580g) Metric (1 Loaf • About 1810g)

Directions:

Preparing the Nuts:

01 - Begin by giving your nuts a light chop, breaking them into smaller pieces.

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02 - Arrange the chopped Nuts uniformly on a baking tray. Then, place them in an oven preheated to 175°C / 350°F. Let them toast for roughly 7 minutes.
You can also do this in a pan.

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03 - Once they've toasted to a golden hue, take the nuts out from the oven. Let them cool down and keep them handy for the next steps.


Blending the Ingredients:

04 - Grab a medium-sized bowl, and carefully sift together your dry components: Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt.

05 - After sifting, sprinkle in the Toasted Nuts you prepared earlier. Keep this mix to the side for now.

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06 - In a separate, smaller bowl, press down on your bananas with a fork, mashing them up.

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07 - Now, let's start with the bread machine pan! Pour in the Eggs, Butter, Milk, and those mashed Bananas you just prepared.

08 - Add the dry ingredient mixture (from step 04) into the bread machine pan, where the wet ingredients are. Everything you need is now in the machine, ready to bake!

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Baking the Banana Bread:

09 - On your bread machine, select the 'quick bread' setting (or its equivalent).

10 - Once the machine signals that it's done, carefully take out the bread pan. Allow the scrumptious banana bread to rest for about 10 minutes. After that, gently slide the loaf out and place it on a wire rack. Let it cool completely. Dive in and enjoy your homemade Banana Bread!

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Notes:

Baking Tip: For a Quick Bake setting, you might want to take the bread out 10 minutes earlier to prevent it from turning too brown.

On Yeast in Quick Breads: Quick bread recipes typically omit yeast, opting for baking powder or soda. While baking powder can sometimes be used for regular bread, its rising effect doesn't last through a full baking cycle of 2-3 hours. Remember, yeast isn't a component in quick breads!

Traditional Baking: It's perfectly feasible to bake the Banana Bread in a conventional oven rather than a bread machine.

Checking the Batter: If the mixture feels overly wet, think about incorporating more flour.

For a Creamier Texture: Using a stick blender can give your banana bread a creamier consistency.

Initial Mixing: Combining all ingredients in an external bowl prior to adding them to the machine can aid in more thorough kneading.

Toasting Tips for Nuts: Lighter nuts like pecans, pistachios, and walnuts typically toast in 6-8 minutes. Heavier nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts might need around 8-10 minutes to toast just right.

Flavor & Ingredient Variations: Enhance taste with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Dark chocolate chips can be a delightful addition. Overripe or previously frozen bananas might result in a superior texture. You can experiment by swapping out regular milk for alternatives like soy milk or buttermilk. A dash of vanilla can also elevate the flavor.

Storing Your Bread: Once your banana bread has cooled entirely, place it in a sealed container. This will maintain its moisture and freshness for an extended period.

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Written by: Uncut Recipes

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